Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkiens beautiful characters. Nor do I own Flordin or Maluil in later chapters. Flordin and Maluil belong solely to miss alexisrayette! She has graciously let me borrow them from her fic 'Masquerade'...Go read it! Now! hehe. Thank you, mellonamin!

Review Review Review...when you can;) I am very aware of my writing being supremely amateur...I would have it no other way:) And also, this is a mary sue...for those who dont know what that is...read and you'll find out;) Flame me, love me...it's all good:) Bare in mind that i'm a poor, poor college student and I have feelings too...*thinks about statement and bursts into fits of laughter* yeah right!

And now, on with the tale...


Prologue:


It is easy to lose yourself when life is not on the line. Your thoughts travel with you on the land and are never at rest until you're pulled into a new reality. They change and your thoughts are never the same. What you once knew is irrelevant and your past life is nothing if at least six feet under you. Everything is behind you, and your life is forever the better...or maybe even for the worse. Who can tell but your own heart that you left behind in a previous reality? Does it matter that you have loved and have been loved? Though you wish to be alone, are you capable of taking on another reality? It will be familiar but not the same and you will scream for the thoughts six feet under you. Even if you forget those in your past, they always come back to haunt you...sooner or later.



Chapter One: You are who?


The forest had been quiet all evening. The she-elf had no trouble setting up her own camp. It was far from dusk but she knew it was better to set up camp in a place that looked safe and was full of sunlight so that everything would be perfect for the coming night. Setting up a very comfortable looking fire, she placed extra sticks to the side in hopes to keep it going the entire night...not that she is afraid of the dark but she likes to see what she is fighting when she has to.

For the past couple of nights, she felt relief that they were uneventful. She was worried an orc group had been following her and she made sure she was prepared to prove her suspicions correct. There was no way an orc was going to catch this she-elf off guard. She had been alive too long for that sort of catastrophe to happen. Her preparedness had never been penetrated and this would always remain the same, as long as she was fully aware of her surroundings.

The only sounds from the darkening woods were the last soft songs of the birds and the stir of a few nocturnal creatures. The she-elf sat down next to her fire and started going through her arrows making sure they were all ready. After that, she took out her daggers and sharpened them.

While sharpening one dagger, which meant much to her personally, she heard a noise that didn't sound familiar. The sound didn't last for more than a second but it was made by something that weighed a little more than the average forest creature. It had to be something passing by and saw the fire. She took no notice of it at first thinking maybe it was a clumsy wolf of some sort. Although she wasn't one to take chances, she closed her eyes and listened carefully. Everything fell silent, or at least it seemed that way. She tuned everything out but what wasn't natural.

She opened her eyes when her gut started wrenching at her. She was being watched by careful eyes. This was definitely new to her. No orc was this graceful, no dwarf was that silent, and certainly no ranger watched their prey waiting for a move. This had to be an elf. The light foot falls (obviously he must be somewhat clumsy to have made such a noise) and the ability to keep completely silent when necessary clicked in the she-elf's mind. But is this a friend or foe?' she thought to herself.

She kept her eyes open, trying not to make big moves while looking around for some sign of an elf. This would be hopeless. There is no way you could spot an elf in a forest unless this elf was completely clumsy. Which is exactly what the she-elf was hoping for. Still yet, after several minutes, there was no sign of anything but the pain in her stomach continued. She knew she was being watched. There was no doubt about it.

Making the first move, she stood up slowly looking around her. She hoped this elf wasn't stupid and try to attack her while she was standing in full battle mode. She kept looking around her and listening as intently as possible. Tired of silence, she thought her next course of action should be to speak. If it was an elf, which she was pretty sure, she wanted to know what he or she wanted.

"Lle quena i'lambe tel' Eldalie?[Do you speak elvish?]" she whispered.

There was nothing but silence now. Even the nocturnal creatures were watching her and wondering what the alarm is. Everything felt as if it were closing in on her and it was intoxicating. She could feel herself becoming weaker by the minute. Dagger by her side, she took a deep breathe and talked a bit louder since the whole forest was now listening.

"Mani uma lle merna?[What do you want?]" she uttered taking another huge breathe after she was done. She scolded herself for losing composure and forced herself to focus. She didn't like this situation. This was the first time this had ever happened to her. Elves were never so shy to make themselves known to her since she was elf herself. What made this elf different? What if it isn't an elf?' she thought suddenly. What if it is a creature I have never encountered before? Focus. I need to focus.'

She hoped her sudden fear had not shown on her face. "Will you not answer?" she said in the common tongue. She was growing tired of this. She felt stiff being stuck in one place and just looking around.

All of a sudden, she felt the pain lessen and her stiffness became relaxed. Whatever it was, was right behind her. She knew right then it was an elf. She grasped her dagger tighter at her side and built up enough force in her body to turn around within a split second.

He grabbed her wrist, the dagger coming less than an inch away from his neck. What is she doing?' he asked himself. Their eyes never met but he knew she was a bit hostile at this point and blamed himself. He had been watching her, never answered her and now he had snuck up on her, he deserved this. As soon as he had grabbed her wrist, she punched him in the stomach making him fall back slightly but never letting go of her wrist. He somehow managed to grab her other wrist and shook the dagger out of the first. He twisted her around holding her right arm behind her back forcing her to her knees from pain.

She was pinned to the ground on her knees. 'I have lost this battle because of my foolishness' she thought to herself. This was the end. She knew it. 'Please kill me quickly' she hoped.

"Lle lava?[Do you yield?]" he asked as he felt the fight within her stop.

The she-elf was dumbfounded. He asked if she yielded? 'Does this mean he does not wish to kill me?' she thought. A bit of hope rose in her but she was still angry and wanted to know what he wanted. She repeated herself "Mani uma lle merna?"

He twisted her arm further behind her back and repeated "Lle lava?"

She let out a moan in pain but held her composure. She is not going to give up so easily. She is a warrior. "Mankoi naa lle sinome?[Why are you here?]" she asked.

He grew tired of this. Still holding on to her wrist making sure she couldn't move, he attempted to answer her. He opened and closed his mouth. I do not need to explain myself. She attacked me' he thought. "Lle lava!?" he shouted impatiently.

They both breathed hard. She knew at any moment he could snap her neck out of frustration and for some reason, she wanted him to do just that. But some part of her just gave up and she angrily whispered "I yield, elf."

He pulled on her arm one more time sending pain throughout her entire body before letting her go. He pushed her to the ground and looked after her as she stood back up with yet another knife in her hand that was concealed on her ankle. This time, she was going straight for him but she stopped. She stopped short of him about five feet. He looked at her puzzled.

The she-elf froze. 'Is it him?' she thought 'No. It couldn't possibly.' She stared at the elf's face. He looked so familiar and she knew who he looked like but wasn't an exact match. To this, she drew her own conclusion.

They stared for a couple of moments and the she-elf lowered her weapon. "Of what family are you?" she finally asked breaking the silence.

"I am Legolas, son of Thranduil. Prince of Mirkwood. And may I ask the same of you?" he said blatantly.

The she-elf was startled. Her suspicions were correct. Son of Thranduil. Prince of Mirkwood!? Oh no! Poor Thranduil' she thought. Some pain she was familiar with rose at the thought.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked puzzled.

"No, master elf. There is nothing wrong. My name is Menetasarewen. Daughter of Gildor, once friend of your grandfather" she replied answering his question also. There was nothing she wanted more than for this event to be in the past. "But I am known plainly as Netasa everywhere I go" she added.

"Are you a wanderer?" he asked.

"A wanderer, my lord?" she asked, confused.

"You are in an unprotected forest in the middle of the night. I could have killed you but it seems as though you expected it. And then you say you are known as Netasa everywhere you go. You obviously are a wanderer" he explained.

Netasa laughed. "Then why did you ask, my lord?"

Legolas frowned a bit. "Please, call me Legolas."

She stopped laughing at this and decided now was a better time than any to end this conversation and this meeting. She walked over to her daggers and arrows to start packing up.

Legolas drew a dagger for fear she was to attack again. "I am sorry, milady, I did not answer you before. I was a bit curious and I can't seem to do two things at one time" he said, desperately trying to keep her from making any fast moves.

At this, Netasa laughed out loud. She couldn't believe this elf to be the offspring of Thranduil.

Legolas slowly brought his dagger to his side and frowned at the she-elf.

Still trying to recover from laughing, she looked at him and said "Legolas...I do not wish to hurt you...nor did I want to from the start..." She regained her composure and continued "In fact, I do not know why you even drew your dagger. You are clearly the stronger. Are you sure you are the son of Thranduil?" She fought giggles at the last question.

Legolas was offended by this and countered "Of course I am! I would know if I am the son of a king."

"I did not ask if you were the son of a king, I asked if you were the son of Thranduil" she said pointedly.

"I am the son of Thranduil" he said slower than a usual sentence. He looked shocked and a bit confused while finally answering her question.

Netasa figured this for emphasis. "Very well" she replied and continued packing up her things.

Legolas watched as Netasa was packing. "What are you doing?" he finally asked.

"Packing. I need to get to Rohan before the next week or so. Thought I would go ahead and start now. You can have the fire and I'll leave some food I gathered also" she replied.

He walked over to her. "Why are you leaving?" he asked gripping her arm in order for her to stop what she was doing.

Netasa stopped her packing and turned around to face him with his hand still on her arm. 'Let go of me, prince' she thought. "Because I need to get to Rohan" she finally answered.

Legolas didn't let go or even budge from his spot. He just looked into her eyes. Those pale green eyes with a shimmer of gold bursting from the middle. They were definitely a sight to see. He finally came out of his reveree when she looked down and blushed. "I am sorry if I am the reason for this sudden departure" he said sadly. He let go of her arm and she turned around slowly to go back to what she was doing.

Netasa looked at the ground. 'Oh Valar. Did I really blush!?' she thought. She picked up another dagger and put it in its sheath on her back.

"I am aren't I?" he asked after she hadn't said anything.

"What?" she asked turning around totally oblivious. 'Oh Valar. What was the question!?'she hesitantly thought. She wasn't paying attention. She was caught up in her thoughts. Netasa felt heat on her face and she knew she was blushing yet again.

Legolas smiled and said "The reason for your leaving, I am aren't I?" The question left him feeling empty.

There was a couple of minutes of silence before Netasa said anything. "Why are you traveling alone?" she asked changing the subject completely.

He looked at her confused. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, you are a prince. Why do you not have guards with you?" she asked emphasising the 'prince' part thoroughly.

Legolas stared at her for a moment and said "I can take care of myself."

After the last word Legolas said, an arrow came whizzing by his head and hit a tree nearby. He quickly turned to see his foe and saw about six orcs advancing with arrows and swords pointed at him and Netasa.